Atlanta Black Pride Workshop Schedule

Please note that due to possible scheduling conflicts, some workshop times may change. Please check with the information desk for updates, changes, additions, and final room assignments for the workshop schedule.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2009

10:00AM – 11:15PM

THROUGH THE CLOBBER PASSAGES: A walk to wholeness Gay Ancestors for your Guide
This workshop is set to bring us to mental and physical wholeness by learning how to respond to the biblical passages often used by the homophobic pastors, parents, people and politicians to justify the oppression of same-gender-loving persons and community. What can we learn from our gay ancestors when we face such attacks and what to do when such attacks are already internalized?
PRESENTER: John Ademola Ademoye, Mustard Seed of Men Ministry (MSMM)

PERFECT PARTNERING
Perfect Partnering is an experience of joy, pleasure and adventure.  It is one of mutual interdependence and service to one another. Each person is meant to experience a satisfying sense of completion and fulfillment as they grow in their personal lives and relationship. Come experience couples who have built a rock-solid relationship as they share their ways of being together that is consistently nourishing and affirming in helping them achieve their life’s mission as a couple.
PRESENTER: CIRCLES2

12:00 noon – 1:15PM

KINK PART 1: An interactive look into S&M (leather sex)
This workshop is designed for those interested in exploring the other side of sex. Due to the nature of this workshop only males and females over the age of 21 will be admitted. 
PRESENTER: ONYX Southeast and The ONYX Southeast Pearls

SEX AND THE SPIRIT
Sex is the desire for pleasurable sensations of physical intimacy with another. Spirit is the desire for nonphysical ecstatic intimacy with another. When considering one’s love life as part of a spiritual path, the greatest concern is that sexual desire and spiritual striving seem to be opposites.  In reality, we, as a species, will be far more successful at spiritualizing sex, not by ignoring it, but through being fully conscious of it.  How does our experience of ourselves as sexual beings open us to the experience of the holy, and conversely?  How might our desire for God be intimately related to our sexual desire and longings? This workshop will explore the possibility that sexual desire and spiritual striving may be something more than enemies, perhaps even friends - dare we say lovers? 
PRESENTER: CIRCLES2

HEATLH INITIATIVES
The workshop will consist of a lecture that will be presented concerning various health issues. There will be an open floor for questions, concerns, and answers given for individuals that desire to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The representative will also discuss a new program that has been implemented to those individuals that do not have the benefits of having health insurance.
PRESENTER: Linda Ellis or Sarah Stanton

1:30PM – 2:45PM

KINK PART 2: An interactive look into S&M
This workshop is a continuation to Kink 1. During this session, workshop participants will be taken deeper into lifestyle basics and be introduced to interactive ways to embrace its array of style and technique.
PRESENTER: ONYX Southeast and The ONYX Southeast Pearls

ASK THE DOCTOR
A physician, physician’s assistant or nurse will be on hand to answer questions regarding health concerns, and health models. Emphasis will be placed on long range health and wellness, resources, as well as health resources for those under the age of PRESENTER: Youth Pride and Kaiser Permanente Staff

AFTER PRIDE, THEN WHAT?
This panel discussion aims to exam the “pride hookup” and the subsequent issues that follow.
PRESENTER: Darwin Thompson & Adolph Arromand

7 STEPS TO RUN A PROFITABLE INTERNET BUSINESS
This workshop is being led by “CashFlow Queen” who is famous online for being able to make $11,000 in only 3 days. She will teach you how to successfully start an internet business. The Do’s & Don’ts of internet marketing and what’s truly needed online to be profitable and successful in your own endeavors. She will also discuss how to turn your passion and knowledge into online profits. 
PRESENTER: Kenetra Ahlaam a*k*a CashFlow Queen

3:00PM – 4:15PM

BODY IMAGE AND HEALTH
This workshop is facilitated by youth and addresses major concerns associated with how people perceive their bodies and the negative or positive psychological impact this will have on their lives, from a youth perspective.
PRESENTER: Members of YouthPride’s YouthBoard

WHY DON’T WE ALL PLAY TOGETHER?
This panel discussion aims to explore the tensions between the different groups within the LGBT community and explore ways to fix the problem.
PRESENTER: LaTosha King, NAESM, Inc.

TRANSMEN AND BUTCHES: What separates us?
In this workshop we will seek to get at the Crux of this divide, hash out the factors that cause separation, investigate the current social environment that feeds it and triumphantly emerge with solutions and strategies for change. Studs, Bois, Aggressives, Butches, Soft-Butches, and all masculinized female–identified people requested to attend, to help inform the conversation.  Those preferring an androgynous appearance are likewise invited to the table.  Honest and unflinching dialogue of a frank nature will be featured throughout this session. Highlights will include discussion about why many long-time lesbian relationships do not survive when challenged by the transition of one partner from female to male.  We will continue by investigating the myriad of ways in which gender is and has historically been experienced and expressed in Lesbian and Transmasculine communities of color and how those experiences affect our present-day relationships.
PRESENTER: Trans Masculine Advocacy Network (TMAN)

4:30PM – 5:45PM

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER
This year alone 33,000 males and 350,000 men will be diagnosed with the disease. At the beginning, there are no symptoms, but by the time they appear, it will be too late to cure it.  One in every five African American men will get prostate cancer.  This informative workshop on prostate cancer is sure to help save lives.  Prevention and early detection are the keys to early survival.
PRESENTER: Dr. Alan T. Simpson, Jr., Men’s Health Education Network

YOU HERE, I’M HERE…NOW WHAT?
This interactive workshop will discuss ways to be safe during pride as well as to still have “fun”.
PRESENTER: Darwin Thompson & Adolph Arromand

MEN WHO LOVE MEN
The Men who love men workshop is designed to educate men about relationships and understanding the definition and dynamics of relationships.  It will be an open dialogue and platform for mature discussion to take place.
PRESENTER: Raymond Duke, President ITLA & Prevention Specialist for S.T.A.N.D

TRANS 101
The focus of the workshop is to provide a starting point for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and all allies to become more informed about Transgender identities.  This workshop will give Pride attendees the space to discuss their understanding of transgender beings, along with their overall understanding of gender and sexuality. Participants will be gaining knowledge of how to facilitate inclusive and safe environments that value and support all. Participants will leave better able to interrupt prejudice and create change. This frank and thought-provoking discussion - where nothing is taboo - will result in new dialogue, new terminology and ultimately new relationships.  We will cover gender, sexuality, identity and interestingly we’ll be able to see where these converge and separate. A panel of Transgender men of color will be available to talk about their lives and experiences.
PRESENTER: Trans Masculine Advocacy Network (TMAN)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2009

10:00AM – 3:00PM

LGBT CANDIDATE AND CAMPAIGN TRAINING
Have you ever thought of running for public office?  Would you like to take your community activism to a new level by helping to elect open LGBT people and our allies to office?  Today the fight for equality is often decided by the outcome of elections. This free training will give you a basic overview of the skills you need to see yourself or your candidate elected to office.  This is an abbreviated version of the three day intensive training offered throughout the year by the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute and will include sections on how to decide to run for office and how to get your message directly to the voters.
PRESENTER: Shawn Werner, and Jeff Graham, Georgia Equality and Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute

12 noon – 1:15PM

ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS: A clarion call to political activism in gay communities
This workshop is designed to motivate people to participate in LGBT activism on different levels. It will deal with why, the worth and the how to be an activist in a macro and mezzo level. Activism is a challenge we need to face following the footsteps of our ancestors.
PRESENTER: John Ademola Ademoye, Mustard Seed of Men Ministry (MSMM)

DREAMS DEFFERED: The Sakia Gunn Film Project
The documentary depicts the homophobia that caused the murder of Sakia Gunn, a 15 year old student who was fatally stabbed in a gay hate crime in Newark, New Jersey.
It questions the lack of media coverage of the murder of a Black Gay teenager. We will have an open discussion sharing our experiences and views on harassment as we watch the documentary.
PRESENTER: Gamma Alpha Pi Chapter

1:30PM – 2:45PM

NON-PROFIT 101
This workshop is designed to provide individuals who aspire to have a non-profit with the basic knowledge to do so. It’s also a good refresher for those who already have non-profits and want to just check in with themselves to make sure they are on the right path. The workshop will address ways on how to: determine the purpose of the organization’s mission and vision, determine the structure of the organization, choose board of directors, write by-laws, file Articles of Incorporation, develop strategic and fundraising plans, establish a system for record keeping and accounting, obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS, and request recognition of 501c3 tax-exempt status from the IRS. 
PRESENTER: Kerline Astre, Koncept Consulting Group, Inc.

I’M GAY, I’M TALENTED! NOW WHAT?
This special workshop features in-depth information and education on how to successfully break into the Music & Entertainment Business as an LGBT Out Talent without having to compromise or suppress one’s sexual identity or orientation.  This informative and motivational workshop will equip all participating attendees with the necessary tools for success, and share stories with some of Meak Productions’ Top Talent from our Roster about their experiences as an Out LGBT Talent or Artist.  Online Casting Call & Talent Registration will be conducted after the workshop, so come prepared with Bio’s and Photo Portfolios.
PRESENTER: Miko A. Evans and Jhonathan Pierre Cornell, Meak Productions

3:00PM – 4:15PM

SHOW ME THE MONEY! FUNDRAISING AND YOUR NON-PROFIT
Fundraising is the charge of the entire organization. This session will abandon the myth that the bulk or all fundraising is to be left solely to the development department and/or development person. This session will help organizations formulate a cohesive fund development plan that is comprised of strategies that are representative of the entire organization and that work in tandem with other departments.
PRESENTER: Kerline Astre, Koncept Consulting Group, Inc.

SEX, SEXUALITY AND SPRITUALITY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
This workshop seeks to educate and empower participants about issues surrounding sex, sexuality, spirituality, and homophobia/heterosexism. We will examine how inextricably linked racism, sexism, and homophobia/heterosexism are in society and examine how our internalization of these “isms” has adversely affected communities of color in addressing social and health disparities in their communities by presenting definitions of sex, sexuality, and spirituality, and facilitating an open and frank discussion on sexuality (heterosexuality and homosexuality) and the Bible.
PRESENTER: Rev. Tommie Lee Watkins, Jr., The Watkins Group, LLC

4:30PM – 5:45PM

INFIDELITY: Breached boundaries or case of cancelled communication
This session will foster a dialogue that attempts to answer the mysterious question with many answers but none that block it from being asked again, “Why do people cheat?. The session will call for honest thoughts surrounding the concept or act of cheating by dissecting the term and the role it’s played in our broken hearts, perplexing relationships, and misunderstood intent. We want to go beyond obvious, “It wasn’t me” rebuttals and rhetoric that cause the relationships in our community to cyclically dissolve. The discussion’s objective is to provide clarity, new perspective and even freedom to those who have felt held captive by the “why’s and how’s” of lost loves.
PRESENTER: Kerline Astre, Uzoamaka Obiocha, and Reese Dillard of Koncept Consulting Group, Inc. and AfroDred Productions

POLITICS OF INCLUSION
This workshop will address how religious and political issues impact the progress of the black gay movement. We look specifically at how the black church influences the attitudes and voting patterns of the black community in regard to public policy affecting LGBT persons. This workshop will also highlight the ways in which the fundamental biblical literalism of the black church fuels homophobia, hate crimes, sexism and the overall socio-economic oppressions of African American people.
PRESENTER: Kenneth Samuel, Victory for the World Church

In The Life Atlanta
346 Auburn Ave NE
Suite 126
Atlanta, GA 30312
678-623-0677 Fax
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Mission: ITLA serves to promote unity, pride, self-empowerment, and positive visibility within Atlanta's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community of African descent through education, advocacy, and coalition building programs.